Foont's Editorials
Here is where I shall vent my spleen on whatever political topic might cross my mind on a given day. Comments or responses may be posted to whatever forum might be appropriate to that particular topic.

Instructions for Joining and Using This ForumThe ALL-NEW BKP 3.0 is here! You now have an hour to edit your posts, and improved administrative features of this software allow me to be much more liberal in the admittedly heavy-handed administration on v. 2.0. It's all a learning process, so please bear with me.

Community Standards
The BKP Community Standards are unusual in several important respects. Please read the Community Standards so that you might participate in the spirit for which this forum was created.

Cabinet and Agency Head Selections
Barack Obama is at this writing still in the process of selecting his cabinet. Some selections are already made: Hillary Clinton at State, Robert Gates at Defense, Eric Holder at Justice, Tim Geithner at Treasury, Janet Napolitano at Homeland Security, and others. What do you think of these folks?

Policies and Proposals
Obama rode to our nomination on his pledge to get us out of Iraq as soon as possible. His health care plan is interesting. Prudence has dictated silence on fiscal rescue matters, although he has advocated a large bottom-up stimulus package (Hey, I could USE $7,000!). There's a lot to talk about here -- jobs, education, conservation, energy, industry, trade, etc., etc., etc.

The VEEP
Let's talk about Joe the VEEP. Personally, I like the guy a lot, and he provides perhaps the best life insurance policy Obama might have obtained. No lunatic rightwinger wants Joe the Biden in the White House, I'll tell you what!

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Personal Matters
A new puppy! School for the kids! Personality quirks! Old friends and foes! Intimate liaisons! Innuendos! Character issues! The press loves this crap. I don't, but if you MUST write something about it, whether on the part of the First Family or other administration figures, do it here and not in more substantive forums.

Scandals
We all like to dish the dirt, don't we? The tawdrier, the better, right? Scandals take many forms, from Larry "Wide Stance" Craig's public restroom escapades through the award of billions of dollars' worth of no-bid, no-competition contracts to Dick Cheney's Halliburton. But it does seem we have a double standard... Democrats McGreevey and Spitzer are forced to resign, while Republicans Vitter and Craig stay in office. Anyone care to offer a justification for this?

Foreign Affairs
Y'know, people used to LIKE us. We were able to use our "good offices" to achieve the resolution of international disputes all over the world, often ending conflict before it could explode into war. Now it seems like we deliberately provoke war, preferring arms over diplomacy.

Separation of Church and State
Our Founders clearly intended the government of our country to be wholly secular. Some people lately seem to disagree, insisting that we are a "Christian Nation." What do you say?

Science and Space
The foundation of our world leadership has, at least since the industrial revolution, always been our leadership in science. Now we seem to be turning our backs on it in favor of dogma and bronze-age superstition.

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Abortion
Until recently this was the #1 hot button issue, but it seems to have faded into the background as our country's problems in so many other areas have become so much more clearly evident.

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Immigration
Do we really now consider people themselves to be "illegal?" Is it in our best interests as a society to deny undocumented immigrants all services, including housing, medicine and, well, hope? Is it wise to import skilled workers while skilled, educated Americans fill jobs flipping burgers? If you think so, please tell us why.

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Terrorism
How do we effectively avoid becoming the victims of anti-American terrorism? Should we bomb them to smithereens and torture the survivors, in the theory that if we kill a person's family and friends then he or she will feel more positive toward America? Or maybe should we try to stop making people so angry that they would dedicate their lives to our discomfort? Hmmm...

The Fourth Estate
The press are our eyes and our ears. Mass media has greater control over our thoughts than most of us are aware, or will admit. John McCain's candidacy was resurrected by a fawning press. Al Gore was placed in a position from which the 2000 election could be stolen by the media's uncritical reporting of Republican slanders. Is the war going well or badly? You only know what you see on TV.

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Executive Branch Agencies
It seems these days that our bedrooms are more heavily regulated than our businesses. Interior is in the mining business, Education preaches religion, HHS wants our women barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, Veterans Affairs keeps 'em sick and wounded, and did I mention the Department of Justice?

The Congress
What bills should be offered? Which should pass? What about that power to declare war? And what should we do about filibusters, impeachment, and the confirmation of appointments?

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The Courts
What racially bigoted goober or televangelist will Bush appoint to the court next? How much life support should we provide if John Paul Stevens falls ill (all of it, up to and including cloning, IMO)? What rulings to you think are right or wrong? And who should a Democratic president appoint? These questions affect all of us for the rest of our lives.

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State and Local Institutions
Governor bothering you? How about some of those interesting state laws, like the ones allowing guns in schools or insurance companies to raid your bank accounts? Trouble with the local constabulary? Is there anything anybody is doing right these days?

The Republican Nomination
So it's old Keating Five member John McCain. Is he too old? Is he too stupid? Is he too rightwing? Is he too hypocritical? Is he too insane? These are all good questions. If your answer is yes, give us your reasons? If your answer is no, then please, pray tell, why would you think such a thing? Inquiring minds want to know.

2008 Senate Races
It's lookin' good! There's a shot at a filibuster-proof Democratic majority. We might even be able to kick Joe Lieberman off all his committees and let him openly become a Republican. Talk about the races collectively or individually here.

The House of Representatives
As always, they're ALL up for grabs. Who's vulnerable? Where might the Democrats pick up big seats? Can we pick off some of the Republican leaders, like last time when we got Tom DeLay?

Old BKP 2.0 and Archive
Out with the old, in with the new. Inside you will find the old BKP 2.0 that served us from 2003 through February, 2008, except only my editorials and administrative matters, which were brought forward. BKP 2.0 is now closed for posting and is for reference purposes only. You will also find forums archived from BKP 3.0 after pruning as events warrant.